BCC Extends One Stop Enrollment Center Hours

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — In preparation for the fall semester, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 3, Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces a temporary extension of One Stop Enrollment Center hours. 
 
In addition to its normal hours of 8 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday, One Stop will be open until 6 pm Monday through Thursday from Aug. 19 through Sept. 10. On Thursday, Aug. 29, Student Orientation Day, One Stop will be open until 8 pm. 
 
The One Stop Enrollment Center is a full-service operation for incoming and prospective students, who can view an admission checklist and apply, browse a course catalogue, file a financial aid form or schedule a tour without an appointment. Advisors are on hand to process applications for instant acceptance to the College, answer questions and assist with financial aid — all with one-on-one personal attention.  
 
In instances in which students need assistance outside normal or extended hours, One Stop staff will work to accommodate their schedule. 
 
Applying to the College is now easier than ever before, especially with the introduction of the Commonwealth's MassEducate and MassReconnect program. MassEducate offers free community college to all Massachusetts residents, regardless of age, who have yet to earn a bachelor's degree. MassReconnect is a similar program for students ages 25 and older. In addition to offering free tuition, both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for eligible students.  
 
For information on applying to the College, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/admission-and-aid/.  For information on MassEducate and MassReconnect, including eligibility requirements, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/freecollege.  

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BCC Trustees Vote to Hire Hara Charlier as Next President

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Catheryn Chacon Ortega, the alumni appointment, liked how Hara Charlier easily connected with students faculty; Melissa Myers, alumni representative, also noted how comfortable Charlier was with various groups. Charlier, right, was called after the vote and accepted pending negotiations and state approval. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It wasn't hard for BCC's Board of Trustees to elect a new president from Minnesota on Monday.

One by one, during a special meeting at Berkshire Community College, board members expressed their conviction that Hara Charlier was the best candidate to lead after Ellen Kennedy retires. They unanimously recommended Charlier as the next president of BCC to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

"We're not trying to hire a replacement for Dr. Kennedy; We are trying to hire our next leader," Chair Julia Bowen said.

Charlier, currently the president of Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minn., was one of four finalists identified by the Presidential Search Committee who visited the campus. She was not on site, but was called after the vote.

Catheryn Chacon Ortega was impressed by how Charlier connected with students and faculty, as well as her passion and breadth of experience.  

"As the appointed alumni, I put myself in the students' shoes when I was thinking about this, and I think I feel very represented by her, like if I come back as a student here, I think she will be a person that will be open doors to me, to my community, to the immigrant community, to everybody," she said.

Danielle Gonzalez feels Charlier has a "very" clear commitment to the community part of community college, and a deep experience of serving underserved populations, "really just with great enthusiasm."

"I think that in addition to having really deep community college leadership experience, she was able to articulate a very thorough understanding of the issues of the college of Berkshire County, of what those opportunities might look like, and how she would connect what her experience has been with how she could drive the school forward," said Julie Hughes, a newer member of the board.
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